There was a point in time where Minecraft was completely inescapable. The game’s iconic blocky graphics and freeform gameplay inspired millions of Let’s Plays, t-shirts, and countless blocky creations. Minecraft became the second best selling game of all time, only behind the Tetris. Nowadays, while the game is still very popular, its ubiquity and core demographic has seemingly been replaced by the massive success of Fortnite.
While you may have quit Minecraft long ago, it’s received constant updates throughout the years. These updates have provided new content that put a fresh spin on the core game without overwhelming new or returning players. Below is our guide for returning players and all of the new content to explore:
There are two main versions of the game: Bedrock Edition and Java Edition
While this may sound confusing, it isn’t. If you’re playing on PC and you’re repurchasing the game, we highly recommend buying the Java version, as it comes with the Bedrock version for free.
Anyway, the differences between the two versions are as follows. The Java version is the original version of Minecraft built for PC which has been continually updated. Most mods have been built for this version, so if you’re a PC player who loves modding the game, go for Java.
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Read Now ►The Bedrock edition is the version of the game built for Windows 10, mobile devices, and all current gen consoles (minus the PS4). Crossplay is possible across the Bedrock edition, which means Windows 10, mobile, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch players can all adventure together.
While the Bedrock and Java editions follow different update paths, the gameplay differences between the two versions are minuscule. If you value crossplay, play the Bedrock edition. If modding is the most important part of the game for you, play the Java edition.
Big content updates are here
The most recent big content update is the Update Aquatic, which released this summer for both the Java and Bedrock editions. The Update Aquatic adds new ocean biomes, populated with plenty of sea life and sunken treasures. You can befriend dolphins and sea turtles, plunder shipwrecks, and fight aquatic zombies. The update is colorful and jam-packed with content, adding a whole new dimension to the already expansive game.
The Java edition also received the Combat Update. Released in 2016, the update heavily revamped the barebones combat featured in previous versions. Players can now dual-wield, equipping weapons, shields, or tools in their left hand (dominant hand can now be toggled for you left-handed folks).
The combat system has gained new attacks, such as a sweeping sword attack, as well as more depth, including an attribute and strength system. In this update, changes have also been made to the End. The Elder Dragon boss fight can now be restarted, and the End is now populated with outer islands with structures and ships to explore.
More things are coming
For those who want some more visual flair into their game, the Bedrock edition is getting an update called the Super Duper Graphics Pack. Though the pack has been delayed multiple times, Mojang has assured fans that the pack will come. The update will be optional, free, and playable on any device that can play the Bedrock version of the game. The enhancements of the pack can be viewed in the video below:
